Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

House Republicans Pass Budget Bill That Would Repeal Core Health Law Elements

The measure, which also would stop federal funding for Planned Parenthood, faces an uncertain path in the Senate and, if approved, a likely veto from President Barack Obama. Observers say these dynamics loom as the government is just days away from defaulting on its debt unless Congress takes action.

The New York Times:
House Republicans’ Budget Bill Deepens Rift As U.S. Debt Deadline Nears
House Republicans on Friday adopted a budget reconciliation package that would repeal core components of the Affordable Care Act and cut off government funding of Planned Parenthood. The move drew criticism from Democrats, who said the measure was wasting valuable time because it has no chance of becoming law and comes just days before the government will default on its debt unless Congress takes action. While the reconciliation package can be adopted in the Republican-controlled Senate with a simple majority — circumventing the usual procedural obstacles — it faces certain veto by President Obama. (Herszenhorn, 10/23)

Los Angeles Times:
House Republicans Vote To Repeal Obamacare, Again
House Republicans pushed forward with another vote to roll back the Affordable Care Act on Friday, passing a bill that would repeal several major pillars of President Obama’s landmark 2010 law, including the requirement that Americans have health coverage. The legislation, the latest of more than 50 bills by congressional Republicans to repeal all or part of the health law, would also halt federal funding for Planned Parenthood. (Levey, 10/23)

USA Today:
House Passes Bill To Dismantle Key Parts Of Obamacare
The budget reconciliation bill faces an uncertain fate in the Senate, even though it requires only a simple majority of 51 senators to pass it instead of the super-majority of 60 senators usually needed to approve major legislation. Three conservative Republicans — Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Mike Lee of Utah and Marco Rubio of Florida — said they will oppose it because it does not repeal Obamacare outright. (Kelly, 10/23)

Reuters:
For 61st Time, U.S. House Passes Anti-Obamacare Bill
Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation on Friday targeting President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act that, like 60 other attempts before it, stands little chance of becoming law. The measure uses special budget rules that give it a greater chance of passing the Senate and reaching Obama's desk than previous efforts, but Obama has said he plans to veto it. (Sullivan and Lawder, 10/23)

Bloomberg:
Core Of Health Law Would Be Repealed In Bill Passed By House
House Republicans voted Friday to repeal the core provisions of the Affordable Care Act and strip federal funds from Planned Parenthood, using an expedited process designed to send those proposals to President Barack Obama's desk for the first time. The 240-189 vote forwards the measure to the Senate, where Republicans could bypass Democratic opposition and send the bill to the president. Obama would veto it, though, and Democrats have enough votes to block an override. (Miller and Dopp, 10/23)

Politico:
Obamacare Repeal Hits Resistance From Conservatives
Senate Republicans’ carefully-laid plans to use a powerful fast-track tool to send an Obamacare repeal to President Barack Obama is running into fresh resistance, with new opposition from high-profile conservatives and bubbling concerns from moderates. For months, the GOP-led Congress has planned to use the procedural maneuver known as “reconciliation” to finally shepherd a major Obamacare repeal bill to the president’s desk. The fast-track process ensures Democrats in the Senate can’t filibuster the legislation and foil yet another attempt to gut the law. (Kim, 10/25)

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